Artificial intelligence matches human experts in dental implant planning

The research, led by Dr. Bahaaeldeen Elgarba and colleagues from KU Leuven, compared the performance of an AI-based implant planning tool with that of human clinicians (Human Intelligence—HI) in cases of single missing posterior mandibular teeth. The study evaluated 50 cases using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scans.

High accuracy and expert-level planning

The findings revealed that 89% of AI-generated implant plans were clinically acceptable, closely matching the 93% acceptability rate of human-generated plans. The AI tool was able to select implant dimensions—length and diameter—that were remarkably similar to those chosen by expert clinicians.

“This study demonstrates that AI is not just a theoretical possibility but a practical tool that can achieve near-expert accuracy in implant planning,” the authors noted.

Significant time savings and consistency

One of the most striking outcomes was the AI system’s time efficiency. On average, AI completed virtual implant planning in just 187 seconds, less than half the time taken by human experts (406 seconds). Additionally, the AI provided 100% consistency, generating identical plans every time it was used with the same patient data. In contrast, human planning showed natural variability between and within operators.

AI demonstrates accuracy, speed, and consistency in virtual implant placement, producing clinically acceptable plans that are comparable to those of human experts.

Can experts tell the difference?

To further validate the AI’s performance, the study employed a Turing test, in which experienced implant dentistry specialists were asked to distinguish between AI-generated and human-generated plans. Interestingly, experts were unable to correctly identify the AI-generated plans in 58% of cases, underscoring how closely the AI system mimicked human decision-making.

Clinical relevance and future outlook

The authors concluded that AI could serve as a valuable support tool in dental implantology, offering faster and highly consistent virtual planning without compromising clinical acceptability. This could be particularly beneficial in general practice settings or for less experienced clinicians.

However, the researchers emphasised that further clinical trials are needed to validate AI performance in more complex cases and real-world settings. The study was limited to cases involving single missing posterior teeth with sufficient bone volume and high-quality imaging.

As AI continues to advance, its integration into the digital workflow may redefine the future of implant planning, allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care while maintaining high standards of precision and predictability.

Reference: Elgarba, B.M., Fontenele, R.C., Du, X., Mureșanu, S., Tarce, M., Meeus, J. and Jacobs, R. (2025), Artificial Intelligence Versus Human Intelligence in Presurgical Implant Planning: A Preclinical Validation. Clin Oral Impl Res, 36: 835-845. https://doi.org/10.1111/clr.14429

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